Endometriosis, Infertility, and Sexuality

In: Framing Sexual Dysfunctions and Diseases during Fertility Treatment · 2024 · pp. 63–69 · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-76726-5_7 · W4406681056
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Endometriosis affects one in nine women, causing chronic pelvic pain and diagnostic delays, with symptoms often recurring even after surgery.

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This chapter reviews evidence on how endometriosis affects fertility and sexuality, describing a symptom burden that includes chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and other gastrointestinal and bladder problems, along with long diagnostic delays of about 6–8 years and recurrence of severe symptoms even after invasive surgery. It highlights literature linking endometriosis with infertility, including distress and changes in sexual function in the context of assisted reproduction. As a caveat, the chapter is a narrative synthesis rather than a new empirical study, and it primarily summarizes findings from prior studies without presenting new data or a unified quantitative analysis. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses specifically on endometriosis in relation to infertility and sexual function/sexuality.

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Abstract

Scientific literature shows that one in nine women suffers from endometriosis [1]: a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), dyspareunia (pain associated with sexual intercourse), nausea, and intestinal and bladder problems [2]. Patients living with endometriosis (ILWE) experience significant diagnostic delays of about 6–8 years after the onset of symptoms [3]. Moreover, severe symptoms often recur even following invasive surgical procedures [3]. Access this chapter Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout Purchases are for personal use only Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Soc Sci Med 49(4):483–497 Madden S, Sim J (2006) Creating meaning in fibromyalgia syndrome. Soc Sci Med 63(11):2962–2973 Youseflu S, Jahanian Sadatmahalleh S, Bahri Khomami M, Nasiri M (2020) Influential factors on sexual function in infertile women with endometriosis: a path analysis. BMC Womens Health 20(1):92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00941-7 Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions Copyright information © 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG About this chapter Cite this chapter Longhi, E.V. (2024). Endometriosis, Infertility, and Sexuality. In: Framing Sexual Dysfunctions and Diseases during Fertility Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76726-5_7 Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76726-5_7 Published: Publisher Name: Springer, Cham Print ISBN: 978-3-031-76725-8 Online ISBN: 978-3-031-76726-5 eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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